manioc

noun

man·​i·​oc ˈma-nē-ˌäk 

variants or less commonly mandioca

ˌman-dē-ˈō-kə 

plural maniocs also mandiocas

: cassava

Several chefs included the preparation of manioc in their demonstrations.

—Jeffrey Steingarten

Indigenous peoples also made full use of the region's plants and animals … including maize and manioc, potatoes and llamas …

—Peter Winn

No table is complete in Brazil without its shaker of manioc flour which is sprinkled on almost everything.

—Thelma Barer-Stein

That night, sitting under a palm leaf roof that the men had lashed together in case of rain, we ate roasted paca, armadillo, baked mandioca root and freshly cut heart of palm.

—Stephen Homer

Examples of manioc in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Tending gardens filled with manioc, maize, sweet potato and chili peppers was a daily ritual for these Indigenous people. —Sean Kingsley, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Jan. 2024

Both traditional and captive wives farmed the staple manioc and brewed it into beer, the centerpiece of competitive feasts. —Catherine M. Cameron, Scientific American, 1 Dec. 2017

After years of neglect, conservation efforts are just picking up for Walker’s manioc. —Betsy Andrews, Discover Magazine, 5 Sep. 2018

Cassava, also known as yuca or manioc, is a staple food in many African countries. —Daniel Danino, Forbes, 16 Mar. 2023

Word History

Etymology

French manioc & Spanish & Portuguese mandioca, all ultimately from Tupi maniʔóka, mandiʔóka

First Known Use

circa 1544, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

manioc

noun

man·​i·​oc ˈman-ē-ˌäk 

: cassava